Sky High

Synopsis

Teenage superhero-in-waiting Will Stronghold (Michael Angarano) starts high school at an elite academy for superheroes... only to find his powers have deserted him. With Kurt Russell and Kelly Preston as Will's pushy superhero parents, this dynamic family yarn manages the cheeky trick of spoofing both Harry Potter and Hollywood's interminable parade of superhero outings. Shucks, it's even got 'Wonder Woman' Lynda Carter on the bill.

Director

Mike Mitchell

Cast

Kurt Russell

Michael Angarano

Kelly Preston

Bruce Campbell

Danielle Panabaker

Lynda Carter

Review

Superheroes have always seemed a little bit nerdy in real life.

Peter Parker ran the risk of sand being kicked in his face before mutating into Spiderman and Clark Kent had the air of a bank clerk when he wasn't fighting crime as Superman.

So it's no surprise that Will Stronghold (Angarano) - the son of The Commander (Russell) and Jetstream (Preston) - doesn't impress on his first day at superhero academy Sky High.

When it's established that he has no discernible superpowers he's relegated to the menial job of "hero support" - acting as bag man for the first team.

This playfully wry outing succeeds largely by cheeking a genre that often runs the risk of taking itself too seriously (The Hulk, anybody?).

When Will doesn't appear destined to follow in his father's footsteps, The Commander laments to Jetstream, "All I ever wanted for him was to save the world."

It's this sort of Incredibles-style irreverence coupled with whizz-bang action that makes it a winner and a surefire hit among teens with a sense of the ridiculous.